Yes! We’re

going back to the Fatherland!

A lot of the music we cut our teeth on came to us via ‘Thomsun Original’ audio-cassette tapes carried down to India in bulging VIP briefcases by Fathers and Uncles returning from the ‘Gelf’. A brief vacation in God’s own backyard; replete with

large easy-chairs, relatives eager for tales and boons, quick impregnations and lots of coconut oil. Then it was back to slogging in the arid desert, squirreling shekels in the Sheikhdoms. And those tapes – ah,

from Boney-M to Steely Dan, Toto to Guns N’ Roses, Osibisa to The Police – that was the stuff that got us going. We wore them out, gleaning the chords to Josie or sweating that solo on Eye in the Sky.

When we played in Dubai for the first time, back in 2007, we promised to return. So, like the, ahem, ‘contraption’ in that book The Naked Lunch, we’re doing it again. On 25th October 2013, TAAQ will play

the Music Room at the Majestic Hotel in Dubai – one of the city’s hottest new venues.

Calling all ye friends and countrymen – show

up! We promise to inject every bit of the enthooseeyaasum we showed the Thomsun Originals into our show. And originals you’ll hear – a bushel full.

Salaam!

The post Going to Abroad – Again!
TAAQ Live in Dubai, October 25 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

The 2012 Jack Daniels/Rolling Stone Rock Awards

turned out to be more than just another wild Bruce chase, with TAAQ’s resident guitarslinger winning the Best Guitarist award for the second time! When asked if he’s in training for a hat trick, Bruce grinned inscrutably and could be heard to mutter ‘I’ll get you in the end’.

This chronicler caught up with the Kung-Fu guitar man for a quick chat:

What do awards like this mean to you?

BLM: Oh, it’s all in a day’s work, ha ha. But seriously, it nice to be recognized by your peers in the ‘industry’ as it were. The whole ‘best guitar

player’ thing is so subjective anyway, so I count myself lucky that this year’s jury liked what I do. And the award itself – oh yes, that looks nice on that shelf in Taaqademy…

What’s more important to you as a guitarist: technique or songcraft? Or can you separate these two things at all?

BLM: Ah, now we’re

talking. Guitar playing technique and songcraft can be viewed as essentially different things – you can find some amazing technicians on the guitar that don’t write great songs, and some amazing songwriters that don’t play very good guitar . For me it’s all part of the same formless ‘musician’ thing. Being self-taught, with guidance from some amazing folks at opportune times, I guess I’ve grown as a musician and songwriter mainly with this one band. I’ve played for all kinds of ensembles, but TAAQ is the only thing that’s consistently kept me evolving – both as a guitar player and songwriter. There are times when I focus only on the technical aspects, improving my facility with the instrument, and there are other times when I’m just writing and composing and putting lyrics down – it’s all very organic I’m afraid. Which means that it smells weird at times, but that’s good too. Very natural.

The post Two for the Mani appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

TAAQ Tales – bedtime stories that will keep you awake!

The first ever episode of TAAQ Tales, in which we uncover the stories behind our music. The words, the pictures, the dramatis personae, the unspoken words between the lines, the unsaid lines…. everything.

Be there, ask, and go home with our secrets.

The post Gig alert – TAAQ Tales, Dec 11, 2010 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).